The Truth About Best by Dates

Why You Shouldn't Always Throw Out Food that is Past It's Best by Date

Almost every grocery item you buy has a date on it. Many of us have been taught to believe that all dates on our food are expiration dates. When in fact most foods are labeled with best by dates. What exactly is a best by date? A best by date is simply a date the manufacturer will guarantee the food to taste its freshest by, assuming the food is unopened. Best by dates are a relatively new invention. Years ago that box of Twinkies could sit on your pantry shelf for five years and your mom would tell you dig on in. Now after just a couple of short months you are supposed to discard that Twinkie with fear of poisoning or death. Kind of silly when you think about it, isn't it?

The main issue most people consider when deciding what to toss from the pantry and what to keep is food spoilage. The basic principle behind food preservation is that bacteria are the main culprits in food spoiling. Bacteria are attracted to moist foods, this is why the native Americans dried their meat to preserve it. Before refrigeration people would salt and sugar cure their foods, because both salt and sugar kill bacteria. If there are no bacteria to contaminate your food the chances of spoilage are slim to none. When you boil your jars when canning your food, you are removing the bacteria inside the jar that could cause your jam to spoil. This is also why your green beans can sit in your pantry unrefrigerated without spoiling. Most food that is sold for your pantry, if unopened, has zero chance of spoiling. Pantry products usually have a best by date and not an expiration date for this reason.

Foods that have a relatively short life span are never dated with a best by date, they are dated with an expiration date. These foods include raw meat and dairy products. Raw meat and dairy products aren't treated to kill bacteria, and are therefore highly susceptible to food spoilage. Refrigeration only slows the process down. Always use or freeze your meat and dairy products before their expiration date. In fact, the only foods the Department of Agriculture inspects for dates are meat and dairy products. Health inspectors could care less about the best by dates on pantry items.